Design work is moving ahead for improvements to the Route 981 corridor between Arnold Palmer Regional Airport and Pleasant Unity as construction advances on upgrades farther south, between Mt. Pleasant and Norvelt.

PennDOT said the northernmost of three sections of the Laurel Valley Transportation Improvement Project is in the final design phase of development. It has a projected cost of between $25 million and $30 million

Crews are expected to be in the field this year conducting geotechnical investigations and doing other preparatory work along the project’s northern segment. That 2.5-mile section is proposed to depart from existing Route 981 and instead follow Route 2023 (Hill Churches and Bell Memorial Church roads), from the intersection of Bingham Road — in Mt. Pleasant Township, just south of Route 130 — north to Route 981 at Airport Road, in Unity.

Three roundabout intersections are planned, at Route 130; new Route 981 and existing Route 2023; Route 981 and a relocated Airport Road.

PennDOT said it intends to reach out to the public this year with updated information about the northern segment. As part of the final design, the department will work on construction and right-of-way plans, environmental permitting and utility coordination.

The overall three-phase Laurel Valley project is meant to improve safety and traffic flow in the Route 981 corridor, between Mt. Pleasant and the airport, by softening or eliminating curves, widening lanes and shoulders and revising intersections.

The project is designed to moderate sharp curves and steep grades in the road where there have been crashes. It also will improve drainage and add an 8-foot-wide shoulder for pedestrians, according to PennDOT.

PennDOT broke ground in November 2021 in Mt. Pleasant Township for the initial southern section of the project, which is expected to cost $55 million.

That segment stretches over 4.5 miles, from the intersection of routes 981 and 819 north to Norvelt. It includes two sections where Route 981 is being realigned — between the Hecla Road/State Street intersection and the Pennsylvania Turnpike overpass; and between Carpentertown Road and Walton’s Lane.

Three roundabout intersections will be installed, at Hecla Road/State Street; Route 819; and the convergence of Route 981 with Mt. Pleasant, Kecksburg and Hecla roads in Norvelt.

PennDOT reports crews are working offline, on drainage and earth-moving, as weather permits. The goal is to switch to roadway preparation later in the spring so paving can begin as soon as weather allows.

Detours have been lifted for portions of Route 981 and Fiedors Grove Road in the project’s southern section, but detours remain in place for Route 819, just south of the Route 981 intersection, according to PennDOT’s project website.

The southern segment is targeted for completion in September 2024.

The project is “still on track to meet this date,” though there were “some minor hangups with utilities,” according to PennDOT.

The project’s central section will run 3.5 miles between Norvelt and Bingham Road. It has an estimated cost of between $35 million and $40 million, with construction not expected to begin before 2026.

The public can visit laurelvalleyproject.com at any time to check on updated project information and submit comments.

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